HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, 



FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL 



Presented May lo, 1905. 

 The Council reports a year of progressive work. In order to place 

 before the members of the Society the latest results and achievements 

 in plant study, so far as they concerned the horticulturist, an attempt 

 was made during the past season to have a series, of co-ordinated 

 lectures on recent progress. With this object in view, arrangements 

 were made for lectures by prominent investigators on subjects relating 

 to the development of scientific cultivation and the making of new plants 

 or varieties by sports and mutations. These lectures were of a highly 

 instructive character. The Council considers that a greater general 

 interest in the doings of the Society will be induced by the regular 

 publication of an official organ, in which a summary of the lectures, 

 and notes on the general progress of the Society will be put before the 

 members. Arrangements are now being concluded for the publication 

 of the "Proceedings of Horticultural Society of New York," which 

 will be distributed free to all members, and may be subscribed for by 

 others interested. It is planned to issue these "Proceedings" eight times 

 a year. 



During the past year the following meetings have been held : 

 June 8 and 9, 1904. — Exhibition of Peonies in the Museum Building 

 of the New York Botanical Garden. The American 

 Peony Society accepted our invitation to hold its first 

 annual meeting on that occasion, and a splendid and 

 unique display of herbaceous peonies was made by several 

 members of that organization. The formal meeting on 

 June 8 was conducted by the officers of the visiting 

 society. 

 November 10-17, 1904. — The Society co-operated with the American 

 Institute in the great Chrysanthemum Exhibition in 

 Herald Square Hall. This was one of the largest displays 

 of plants and flowers that the city has seen. 

 December 14, 1904. — Lecture by Dr. G. T. Moore, on "Recent Progress 

 in Improving Fertility Through Soil Inoculation." (Illus- 

 trated by stereopticon). 

 January ii, 1905 — Lecture by Dr. D. T. Macdougal on "Origin of 

 Species by Sports and Mutations." (Illustrated by living 

 specimens.) 

 February 8, 1905. — The programme announced for this meeting was 

 not called, in the absence of a quorum. The difficulties 

 of travel in the city and the weather combined had this 

 effect. 



6 



